Packaging machine



Aug. 25, 1953 H. L. BARTELT PACKAGING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 15, 1949 m y T'TOIQNEBX/ N mm @m Aug. 25, 1953 B E T 2,649,674

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1949 9 Sheets-Shet 2 1 m it Q N iCA-H-romay Aug. 25, 1953 H. L. BARTELT PACKAGING MACHINE 9 Sheets-$heet3 Filed June 15, 1949 Q-Iq wild kn W TTOIQJUE-YL/ Aug. 25, 1953' H.BARTELT PACKAGING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 13,1949

Aug. 25, 1953 H. "L. BARTELT 2,649,674

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 5- NYEvN'TOmd CAorzNaY/ Aug. 25, 1953 H. L. BARTELT 7 PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 13,1949 9 Sheets-Sheet'S INYEZ-NTOH-s "Aw-rompvf Aug. 25,, 1953 H. L.BARTELT PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 15-, 192% MEI? 9 Sheets-Sheet 7NVELN'TO Wow-chi L.. A. Gui P 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June..13 1.949

Aug. 25, 1953 H. L. BARTELT PACKAGIN MACHINE QSheets-Sheet 9 Filed June13, 1949 Patented Aug. 25, 1953 PACKAGING MACHINE Harold L. Bartelt,Rockford, IlL, assignor of forty-five per cent to Donald E. BarteltApplication June 13, 1949, Serial No. 98,660

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for operating on a pair of layers orstrips of paper or other flexible material as they are advanced along apredetermined path to form bags or envelopes and then fill and close theindividual bags.

The general object is to provide a machine of the above character whichis of simplified and improved construction, which may be operated athigh speed to package a wide variety of articles or materials, and whichmay be adapted readily to produce bags of widely varying lengths andwidths.

Another object is to provide a machine of the above character in whichthe flexible strips and the bags formed therefrom are advanced step bystep along a predetermined path, and the operating mechanisms in theiractive strokes move transversely of the path but are adapted foradjustment along the path to vary the width of the bag.

Still another object is to provide for filling each bag after it hasbeen formed and severed from the leading end of the advancing strips.

The invention also resides in the novel structural character of theactuators for the various forming and sealing mechanisms, of the stripfolding mechanism, of the bag filling mechanism, and of the auxiliaryconveyor for handling the completed bags.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevational View ofa packaging machine embodying the novel feature of the invention, theframe cover being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the various bag forming steps.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the bags.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the strip feeding mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating steps in the folding of thebags.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one of the filled bags.

Figs. 7, S and 9 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectivelyalong the lines '!l, 8-6 and 9-9 of Fi 2.

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary sectional views taken along the lineslt-Hl and iI-H respectively of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal elevational view of the right-handportion of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fi 13 is a fr gm n y p an view as viewed 2 in the direction of thearrows I3I3 shown on Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Hl|4 ofFig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line i5l5 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 15 with a fillingmechanism shown in section.

Fig. 1'7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line !'i-Il' ofFig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line l8--l8 ofFig. 12.

Fig. 19 is an elevational right end view of the machine with certain ofthe parts broken away.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan view of the discharge end of the machine.

Figs. 21 and 22 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively alongthe lines 2i-2l and 22-22 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Eli-23 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a modified form of bag.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiment. It is to be understood,however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosurebut aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions fallingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in theappended claims.

The machine shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration isparticularly adapted for use in converting one'or more continuous stripsor ribbons IQ of flexible material such as paper, plastic, or the like,into a bag or envelope II (Figs. 3, 6 and 24), filling the same with oneor more measured quantities of material or articles 12 (Fig. 6), andclosing the bags. The latter, in the form shown in Figs. 3 and 6, isrectangular in shape having side walls I3 adhesively joined at theirside margins by seams I4 at the the bottom by a fold. or pleat l5, andacross the top by an adhesive seam l6. To increase the capacity of thisform of envelope, the fold I5 is of the bellows type having sides ll ofnarrow width converging upwardly into the bag proper and secured attheir ends to the walls I 3 but not to each other. The inverted V-shapedfold. permits expansion of the bag bottom as shown in Fig. 6 or collapseof the same when the bag is empty.

'As an alternative, the envelope may, as shown in Fig. 24, be formedwith one transparent side wall 13 through which the articles I2 arevisible. Such an envelope may be formed from two strips of differentmaterials, closed by the side and top seals :4 and i6, and at the bottomby a seam I8 similar to and parelleling the top seam.

The adhesive used to form the seals is preferably a thermosenstiveplastic material applied as a thin coating on the side of the paperwhich forms the inner surfaces of the bag walls. As is well known in theart, such adhesive softens quickly upon heating to the propertemperature after which the walls may be united by the application ofpressure momentarily. Where one or both bag walls are themselves formedof.

thermoplastic material, no such additional coating is required.

Generally stated, the improved machine shown in the drawings operates todraw a length of bag material, such as paper or the like, off from aroll 20 and double the strip as it passes through a mechanism 2! (Figs.1, 2 and 4) to formtwo side strips disposed side by side after which thefolded strip it is pushed horizontally step by step through a station 22(Fig. at which the strip is cross-sealed at 23 to form interveningpockets and a station 24 (Figs. 11, 12, 13) at which the cross-seal issevered along a line 25 to form the side scams [4 of adjacent bags.Before being cut off from the leading end of the folded strip, the bagis delivered to a transfer station 25 where it is picked up by aconveyor 2! by which its step-by-step advance is continued to presentthe bag to one or more filling stations 28 (Figs. 1, at which the bag isopened and measured quantities of the articles I2 are dropped therein.Finally, before the filled bag is discharged from the remote end of theconveyor 27, it is sealed across its upper end at a station 30 (Figs. 1and 21) to form the seam It.

It will be understood that the number, character, and sequence of theoperations will'vary considerably depending on the nature, size andshape of the material or article or the number of different kinds ofarticles or materials to be packed. For certain packages, it may bedesirable to print directions or advertising matter on one or both sidesof the envelope, this being accomplished at a special printing station3| (Fig. 2) disposed ahead of the sealing station 22. Or, in the case ofvery flexible plastic materials, more than one mechanism may be requiredfor feeding the folded strip forwardly, these being spaced along thepath of advance of the strip.

The various operating stations are spaced along the top of an elongatedframe 32 supported-by legs 33 on side members 34 connected rigidly bycrossbars and having parallel top rails 35 on which the operatingmechanisms at the various stations are mounted and along which certainof the mechanisms are adjustable to vary the width of the bags.

The strip and bag feeding, sealing, out-off, and filling mechanisms areactuated by motions derived from a camshaft 38 extending along the frameand journaled in spaced bearings 31. This shaft is driven through a belt4 from an electric motor 38 (Fig. l) and a speed-reducer 39 of wellknown construction adapted to be adjusted manually to vary the speed ofthe shaft and therefore the output capacity of the machine.

In the present instance, the paper strip is unwound from the roll 2!],drawn through the folding mechanism and pushed onto the sealing andcut-ofi" stations by rollers 42 and t3 engageable with opposite sides ofthe folded strip and driven 5 intermittently from the camshaft 35.Herein, the roller 43 is mounted in fixed bearings on an invertedU-shaped bracket 44 (Figs. 1 and 4) while the rollerAZ is carriedby ayoke 55 which is'pi-voted on the bracket and adjustable by a 10 suitableset screw toward and away from the fixed roller to produce the pressurewhich is required to advance the folded strip without substantialslippage. At their lower ends, the rollers carry meshing gears 46 and abevel gear fast on '15' the shaft of the fixed roller meshes with a gear47 (Fig; 4) on a shaft 48 which is coupled through a' one-way clutch 49(Fig. 23) to an arm 5 loose on the shaft. The clutch may be a simpleratchet "but preferably is a so-called Sprag clutch. The free end of thearm 5 is joined by a link M to the pin 520i a cranket fast on the camshaft 3fi. By' turning'a screw 54, the pin 52 maybeadjusted along the crankto vary the throw of'the' crank and therefore the distance through whichthe folded strip will be advanced during the half revolution of thecrank in which the link 5| is lowered with a gradually accelerated andthen decelerated motion. Objectionable slippage of the friction drive isthus avoided to so that the bags may be formed of the desired uniformwidth simply by-adjusting the length of the feeding motion produced bythe angular displacement of the rollers 42, 43.

The paper roll 2 is mounted on a shaft journaled at opposite ends instandards 55 (Fig. 1) at the extremeleft end of the frame. The stripunwound from the roll is led beneath a plate 55 (Fig. 4) 'havinga flattriangular bottom inclined downwardly and merging at its side marginsoxwith upright sides 51. The latter converge toward each other and mergeinto closely spaced plates 58 (Figsi'l; 8 arid'Q) which converge towardeach other very gradually. The lower edges of these plates are spacedapart and ooact with the upwardly inclined upper edge of a blade 60 (seeFigs. 2 and 7) to form the bellows fold I5 along the'center line of thepaper strip as the opposite side'portions ii! of the latter are guidedalong the plates 58 to form opposite side 5Q walls l3 of the bag. Suchguiding is effected by rigid pins 59 upstanding from the frame adjacentthe junction of the sides Gland the plates 58.

With the arrangement thus described, the flat paper sheet leaving theroll is shaped progres sively as illustrated in Fig. 5 into the desiredcross-sectional shape of the bag to be produced. Thus, the bottom plate56 and the sides 53 con vert the sheet into a rectangle which decreasesprogressively in width while increasing in depth 60 up to the junctionof the sides-5T and the plates '58, the depth of the folded strip thencorresponding to the desired depth of the bag. Then, as, the advance ofthe paper continues, the gradual convergence of the plates 58 allowsjust enough contraction of the bottom fold to permit progressive upwardor infolding by the blade to to form the bellows fold l5.

Novel means are provided for pressing the bag walls against the plates58 so as to hold the paper strip centered accurately relative to theforming mechanism and thus produce bag walls of equal depth. in spite ofthe shifting of parts of the paper as is required during the progressiveformation of the bottom fold 15 by the action '76. of the blade 60, Asshown iniFigs. 1, 2 and 9,

this means includes two relatively narrow rollers 6| having yieldablesurfaces bearing against the paper at points disposed between the guidepins 59 and the feed rolls 42 and 43 and spaced substantially above thebottom fold, the rollers being rotatable in a plane which slopesupwardly in the direction of advance of the folded strip. Herein, therollers are journaled on the free ends of arms 62 (Figs. 1 and 9)swingable about vertical stationary studs 63 on the feed rollersupporting bracket. Torsion springs 64 act on the arms 62 to urge therollers toward each other.

The other part of the centering means comprises two elongated shoes 55(Figs. 1, 3, Band 9) urged against opposite walls of the bag along thelower edge of the plates 58 beginning at a point a short distance beyondthe guide pins 59. These shoes are pivoted intermediate their ends onthe ends of horizontal arms 6'! (Fig. 9) pivoted on the studs 63 anddrawn toward each other by a spring 66 which extends through the blade69 beneath the folded strip.

It will be apparent that the shoes exert on the paper frictional forceswhich resist lateral creeping of the strip along that portion of theformer plates 53 where the bottom fold l5 in the bag is formed by thecoaction of the blade 60. At the same time, the rollers Si, by virtue oftheir inclination, exert upwardly directed forces on the bag walls andthus hold the paper strip stretched quite tightly around the surfaces ofthe former during the final formation of the bottom fold. As a result,the doubled strip, when the paper roll 29 is centered properly relativeto the forming mechanism, is held accurately against lateral creepingresulting in folding of the strip with sides of equal depth andcoinciding closely with each other at their upper ends.

After being folded to the desired symmetrical cross-section as describedabove, the folded strip passes between the feed rolls 5?, 43 by whichthe several folds are collapsed and the entire strip is thus stiffenedsufllciently to enable it to be pushed forwardly by the rollers Withoutbuckling. During its advance to the sealing station 22, the strip slidesalong a horizontal track 68 (Fig, 1) and the upper and lower edges areheld between pairs of guide bars 69.

Cross-sealing of the folded strip is effected at the station bymomentarily pressing the strip between a yieldab-le backing surface 10(Fig. 10) and a shoe TH heated to a temperature sufficiently high tosoften the thermosensitive coating on the opposed surfaces of the paper.The backing 10 is supported on pins projecting through holes in a post"it upstanding from a cross-member 12 adjustable along the frame rails35 to which it is xed by clamps 53. The shoe '5! is a metallic blockhaving an electrical heater embedded therein. It is secured to the upperend of a vertically disposed lever '15 pivoted intermediate its ends ona pin it which is supported by the crossmember if and is disposedbeneath the advancpaper strip. Rocking of the heater shoe is effected bya cam ll fast on the shaft 36 and engageable with a follower roller 18on the lower end of the lever 75. A spring [9 acts on the lever to holdthe follower against the cam and retract the heated shoe when the lowpart of the cam is presented to the follower. A rise Ti on the camswings the lever to move the shoe against the folded strip i9 and pressthe latter against the backing it. Under the resulting heat andpressure, the areas of the paper equal to the size of the shoe face areheat sealed together as indi- 6 oated at 23 (Fig. 2). The cam 10 is madeof substantial axial length so as-to permit of a wide range ofadjustment of the sealing unit along the frame without necessitatingadjustment of the cam along the shaft. Preferably the sides of thefolded strip are separated by a finger (Fig. 2) located in advance ofthe sealing station 22.

The vertical length of the shoe H is at least equal to the width of thefolded strip so that the seal 23 extends entirely across the strip and.therefore the full length of the bags including the bottom fold I5.However, since the paper is coated only on the inner surfaces of thefolded strip, the external surfaces of the bottom fold do not becomesealed together. Thus, the bag bottom is free to expand as shown in Fig.6 by straightening of the fold 15 when the articles are introducedtherein.

The width of the seal 23, as determined by the width of the shoe H, isdouble the desired width of the bag side seams It so that the latterseams of two adjacent bags are formed by severing the folded strip alongthe center line of the seal. Such cutting of the seal is effected at thestation 24 by blades 8! and 82 (see Figs. 11 and 13) operable with ascissors action and relatively movable transversely of the folded stripafter the latter has been pushed endwise between the blades when thelatter are separated. Herein, the edge of the fixed blade 8| is disposedadjacent one side of the folded strip and the blade is on a standard 83projecting upwardly from a cross member 34 spanning the frame rails andadapted to be secured to the latter by clamps 85' which when loosenedpermit the scissor blades to be adjusted horizontally along the strip I0to vary the cut-off point. The latter is spaced along the strip from thecenter of the sealing shoe H a multiple of the feeding movement producedby the rollers 42, 43. As a result, the center of one seal 23 is, byeach advance of the strip, brought to a position directly opposite thecutter blade 82.

Cut-off is then effected by swinging of the blade 82 across the path ofthe strip to carry its inclined cutting edge across the edge of thefixed blade to the position shown in phantom in Fig. 11. For thispurpose, the blade 8! is held under the pressure of springs 86 (Figs. 12and 13) against the side of a block on the upper end of an upright lever81 having a follower roller 88 at its lower end and urged by a spring 89against a cam 90 on the shaft 36. The lever is fast on a rock shaft H6disposed beneath the cross member 84 in the'plane of the folded stripand journaled on this member. When the follower 88 is engaging the lowpart of the cam, the blade 82 is retracted and the strip may be advancedbetween the blades to present the next seal 23 opposite the cuttingedges. Then, as the cam turns, the rise thereof engages the follower andswings the lever to carry the blade edge across the stationary edge andthus sever the folded strip along the center line of the seal 23. Likethe cam 18, the cam 91] is made of substantial axial length to allowadjustment of the cutter along the frame to accommodate a relativelywide range of bag widths.

It will be observed that the active motions of the sealing and cut-offelements H and 82 are in the same direction and occur substantiallysimultaneously. Therefore, both of these elements may, if desired, bemounted on a frame rocked by a single cam.

In each advance of the folded strip, the leading end portion thereof ismoved past the cutoif'position and onto the secondary conveyor 21 above*referred to (Figs. 1 and 12) which grips the bag prior to cut-off andthen advances the bag step-by-step to the filling and final sealingstations 28 and 30. While this conveyor may take various forms, itcomprises in the present instance an endless chainBl of the ordinaryroller type extending around sprockets 92 and 93 having uniformly spacedtherealong gripping devices 94 which are closed and opened automaticallyand which, while gripping the bag, carry it along a horizontal track onwhich the bag bottom rests, the track being formed by a bar 95. Theupper straight run of the chain is thus disposed alongside the line ofadvance of the bags and above the bar which is supported by framecrosspieces, one of which supports the bearing 98 (Fig. 13) for thesprocket 92.

The upper run of the chain is supported and. guided for endwise movementat the proper height above the bar 95. Herein, this is accomplished byrails 91 (Fig. 18) supported by the cross pieces 32 and engaging thetops and bottoms of the chain rollers 98 and also the side members ofthe links.

Preferably, the conveyor 21 is indexed forwardly through steps which aresomewhat longer than the width of the widest bag to be made.

so that the conveyor will handle all of the bag sizes without changingthe length of its stroke. Such advance of the chain may be effected by acrank 99 (Figs. 12 and 19) fixed on the far end of the camshaft 36 andconnected to one end of a rod H90 whose other end (see Figs. 19 and 20)carries a pawl it! which is held by a spring in engagement with theteeth of a ratchet wheel I62. The latter is fast on a shaft connected tothe shaft of the sprocket 93 through bevel gears IE3. It will beapparent that during each upward movement of the rod i 00, the chainwill be advanced through a fixed distance and all of the bags H held inthe gripping devices 94 of the upper chain run will be movedcorrespondingly. The crank 99 is so positioned on the shaft 36 that theindexing movement of the conveyor 21 will occur while the folded stripat the sealing and cut-off stations is stationary and immediately afterthe blade '82 has been advanced by its cam to cut-off the strip. The

conveyor motion is completed before the blade is retracted and thesubsequent feeding of the folded strip initiated.

In the present instance, the gripping devices 9 each comprise a blockI04 (Figs. 13 and 18) secured to extensions of the pivot pins ofadjacent chain links and disposed at the side of the chain with theexposed surface of the block H34 disposed close to the path of advanceof the folded strip. Cooperating with the block surface to form a clampis a jaw I05 bent from a strip of metal and supported by two verticallyspaced screws H36 projecting from the block and loosely through the fiatintermediate portion of the jaw I95 so as to permit rocking of thelatter away fro-m the block. Springs 101 acting against heads on theouter ends of the screws H36 urge the jaw I95 toward closed positionagainst the block surface. The trailing end I68 of the jaw is bentoutwardly and cooperates with the beveled end wa of the block to guidethe entry of the leading end of the folded strip into the grippingdevice.

The leading end portion of the jaw N15 is inclined outwardly and awayfrom the block Hi l to permit the jaw to be; rocked by a force appliedto the curved end [.09 and directed laterally of the path of advance ofthe gripping devices and the bags thereon. Herein, the force is derivedfrom the cam shaft and applied by a finger in the form of an adjustablescrew H0 (Figs. 12, 13 and 14) projecting from the upper end portion ofa lever Ill swingable about a pivot H2 supported by a bearing on a framecrosspiece. The depending end portion of the lever is slotted asindicated at H3 in Fig. 14 to receive a pin H i projecting laterallyfrom the end of a crank H5 (Figs. 11 and 13) which is fast on therockshaft H6 which carries the cut-off lever 82 above described. Thearrangement is such that when the cut-off blade is retracted as shown inFig. 13, the crank H5 will be disposed in the position shown in phantomin Fig. 14, and the finger H0 will be swung to the left against the end569 of the jaw I05 then disposed at the transfer station thereby holdingthe latter inwardly so as to rock the outer end of the jaw outwardly andhold the gripping device open. Then, when the knife blade 82 is advancedby the cam to cut off the leading end portion of the folded strip andform a bag, the lever II is swung with the cutoff lever to retract thefinger HQ and allow the jaw M5 to close under the action of the springsm. The leading end of the bag bottom is thus gripped and clamped to thechain 9i so as to be carried forwardly in the next advance of the latterwhich occurs before the cutter blade 82 is retracted and the clampopening finger H0 again projected forwardly. In this way, the cam 96 isutilized to perform the additional function of opening the terminalgripping device and later allowing it to close after it has received thenext bag to be cut off.

It is preferred for several reasons to fill each bag H after it has beensevered and while it is supported by the conveyor 27. Such filling iseffected at one or more stations after the bag has been opened toreceive the articles on a chute through which they are discharged. Toopen the bag, the side walls l3 thereof are separated through the use ofsuction cups ill (see Figs. 12, 13, 15 and 16) which are moved againstthe outer surfaces of the bag walls, subjected to a vacuum, and thenmoved outwardly all in timed relation to the indexing movements of thecon veyor 27 and the operation of the associated filling mechanism.

The cups H! which are made of soft rubber material are mounted on theends of horizontally disposed tubes H8 rigid with the upper ends ofupstanding arms I E9 of bell crank levers l2t disposed on opposite sidesof the bag at the filling station 28 and swingable about a common pivotIZI. Such swinging is effected in the present instance through links l22connecting the outer ends of the bell cranks with a slide 523 guide-dfor vertical movement in a frame bracket i254 and urged downwardly by aspring 525. On the lower end of the slide is the follower of a cam I26fast on the shaft 36 and adapted to raise the slide as shown in Fig. 15and thereby swing the cups inwardly into alinement with each other andagainst opposite walls of the bag then disposed at the filling station.As the follower rides off from the high point of the cam, the bellcranks swing outwardly to the positions shown in Fig. 16 therebyseparating the upper end portions of the bag walls so as to open thebag.

Before such separating of the cups occurs, a vacuum is created therein,preferably by the action of a pump I21 (Fig. 12) which is actuated fromthe camshaft 36. Herein, the pump comprises a cylinder I28 mounted onthe machine frame and communicating at its upper end with flexibleconduits I29 connected to the tubes IIB leading to the suction cups. Apiston I30 reciprocable in the cylinder has a rod connected by a linkI3I to the free end of a crank I32 which is positioned on the shaft soas to initiate downward movement of the piston and the application of avacuum to the suction cups as soon as the cups are brought against thewalls of the bag. The vacuum continues for the remainder of a halfrevolution of the camshaft during which the cups are separated to openthe bag and the latter is filled. As the crank motion reverses, whichoccurs while the cups are held retracted, the vacuum is relieved and thebag walls are released so that the bag may be pulled forwardly in thenext advance of the chain conveyor. The degree of vacuum created by thepump I2I may be varied by adjusting a valve I2'I (Fig. 12).

The filling mechanism for depositing the articles I2 in the bag whilethe latter is held open will vary in form depending on the number andsize of the articles. As shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, the fillerincludes a tube I33 slidable vertically along a key I34 in a guidewayformed in a bracket I35 secured to the machine frame adjacent thefilling station. The tube has a side opening I35 near its upper end forreceiving articles I2 gravitating downwardly from one or more inclinedchutes I3'I in which the articles are maintained in a row by means wellknown in the art.

The lower end of the tube I33 is closed by doors I38 of arcuateclam-shell shape suspended from pivot pins I39 on opposite sides of theinto abutment as shown in Fig. 15, the doors.

being normally held in this closed position by a spring I43 stretchedbetween pins which project outwardly from opposite sides of the doors.In this closed position, the doors form a receptacle which tapersdownwardly substantially to a point and is adapted to enter between thewalls of the open bag as the tube is lowered. In the final part of thismotion, short arms I4I (Fig. 16) projecting outwardly from the doorsencounter vertically adjustable stops I42 and, in the continued movementof the tube, the doors are swung apart to further spread the walls ofthe bag as shown in Fig. 16 and also to release the batch of articlesthen held in the receptacle, the articles falling directly into the bag.Then, as the tube is retracted upwardly, the doors are allowed to swingtogether and close the bottom of the tube ready to receive the nextmeasured batch of articles.

While the lowering of the tube may be effected by a cam on the shaft 36,it is actuated in the present instance by a solenoid I43 (Fig. 15) whosearmature is connected to the outer end of a lever I44 pivoted at I45 onthe bracket I35 and having a pin and slot connection I46 at its innerend with the tube I33. A spring I41 (Fig. 17) operates to raise the tubewhen the solenoid is deenergized by opening of a switch I48 (Figs. 1, 12and 22) by which the energizing circuit for the solenoid is opened andclosed. The switch may be actuated at proper times in' the cycle by acam I49 fast on the shaft 36 and shaped to close the switch just afterthe bag at the filling station has been opened by the sucion cups and toopen the switch after an inter- 10 val long enough to enable all of thearticles I2 to fall into the bag.

If desired, the upward motion of the tube may be utilized to release anew batch of the articles from the chutes I31 and allow the same togravitate into the tube. To this end, a U-shaped yoke I56 (Fig. 17)having upstanding arms is mounted in the bracket E35 adjacent the tubeI33 to slide horizontally and transversely of the chute I3'I. This iseffected by a pin I5! projecting from the tube I33 into an inclined slotI52 in the yoke and acting as a :cam on the slot walls to shift the yoketo the right as shown in Fig. 17 as the tube is lowered. In thismovement, a finger I53 extending horizontally from the yoke toward thechute I37 is projected across the groove in the latter and thus forms astop for holding the upper articles in the chute against downwardgravitation.

In this same movement of the yoke, a horizontal finger I54 on the yokeis withdrawn from the chute groove to the position shown in Fig. 17,thus allowing the row of articles to slide downwardly until the stopfinger I53 is encountered. Now, when the motions are reversed and thetube I33 is raised by the spring I41, the yoke will be camrned to theleft to project the finger I54 through the row of articles in the chuteI31 and thus form a stop for holding back the articles farther up thechute. At the same time, the finger I53 becomes withdrawn from the chuteallowing the articles then disposed between the fingers to gravitateinto the tube through the opening I35. The number of articles thusmeasured into the receptacle is determined by the spacing of the fingersI53 and I54 along the chute.

If a different kind or size of article is also to be deposited in eachbag, a second filler mechanism would be located at a subsequent positionof the bag in its step-by-step advance by the conveyor 21. At suchfilling station, the bag opening mechanism above described would beduplicated. In the case of each filler, the supporting bracbet I35 ismounted on the machine frame for some degree of adjustmentlongitudinally of the path of advance of the bags. By such adjustment,the discharge outlet of the filler may thus be centered between the sideedges of the bag II and thus positioned properly in relation to bags ofdifferent widths. This adjustment is made after changing the bag widthsand is necessary because in the fixed indexing movements of the conveyor21, the leading edge of bags is brought to fixed positions along theline of advance and therefore the positions of the bag centers will bedetermined by the widths of the bags.

After passing the filling stations, the bag is moved by the conveyor 21into the station 30 at which the bag is heat sealed across the top toform the seam I5 and effect final complete closure of the bag. This isaccomplished by mechanism similar to that for forming the cross-seals 23and comprising a, backing block I55 (Figs. 20 and 21) and a heated blockI56 between which the upper edge of the bag is pressed momentarily. Theblock I55 is slidably supported on pins on a frame bracket I51 and urgedby springs I58 toward a limit position determined by suitable stops. Theblock I55 in which a suitable electric heater is embedded is fixed tothe upper end of an upright lever I59 swingable about a pivot I60 on themachine frame carrying a follower I6I at its lower end riding a cam I62on the shaft arisen ill 35. A spring 1'63 holds'the lever against thecam which is shaped to hold the heater retracted during the advance of abag into sealing position. During the dwell of the bag, the cam advancestheblock I56 momentarily against-the bag and presses the top thereof"against the backing I55 thus effecting sealing across the entire widthof the bag which is spanned by both the backing and the heated block.

The bag thus sealed'is released from the conveyor2'I after it has passedaround the sprocket '93 and starts to move reversely. This may beaccomplished conveniently by a stationary cam (Figs. 12 and 20) in theform of a rigid bar I63 projecting from the en'd' of the machine frame'and'having 'an incline I65 disposedas shown in Fig. 20 in thepath ofthe curved end portion I09'of the jaw'I05. Thus, as the gripping devicewitha bag clampedtherein as shown in Fig.1 reaches the cam, the inclineI65,'acting on the then leading end I39 of the jaw I05, wedges thisendlaterallyof the path of traveland toward, the chain. The jawis thusrocked relative to the block I04 about its fulcrum defined by the screwsI06 thereby swinging the other end of the jaw away from'the block so'as'torelease the clamping pressureonthe then inverted bag allowing thelatter to fall into a suitable receptacle. The jaw'is held in-openposition as the end I09 rides up the incline onto a straight part of thecam and until the latter has been passed whereupon the jaw is moved backagainst the block H34. It will fbe 'observed that the cam I84 acts'onthe gripping device while the chain link supporting it is'still in meshand therefore held against lateral displacement by the sprocket 93. g

' Operation The machine above described is prepared for operationbystopping the motor 38 with the camshaft 36 ina positionto separate-thesealing elements and the cutter blades at the stations 22, 2d and 30. Aroll of the plastic coated paper of a, width capable of forming bags ofthe desired height is mountedin centered position in the machine and theleading end is manually pthreaded throu huthe folding mechanism, the

feed rolls, the guides, and between the sealing and cutting elements atthe stations 22 and 24. Then, by turnin the screw'54, the throw of thecrank 53 isv adjusted to turn the feed rolls e2, 33 and adva nce thefolded strip Ii! a distance exactly equal to the bag width desired.Next, the cutter unit is adjustedalong the frame rails 35v to space theknife edges and 82 a distance precisely equal to the envelope width fromthe first gripping device 94 at the transfer station 250. 31. 1 h n=w 2snfr m t position wh the leading end of the folded stripoccilpies afterbeing fed forwardlyby the: rollers 42, #3 following operation ofthecutter blades. Finally, the bracket n of the cross-sealing mechanismis adjusted tospace the center of the heated shoe II from the knife edge8I a distance which is a multiple of the wid'th-of the bag and theindexing movement for which the feeding mechanism is set. r

During operationiof the motor with the inachine thus adjusted, .2 lengthof paper for forming one bag will bedrawn from the'roll 20 and throughthe folding mechanism during that part of each revolution'of'the"cam'shaft 36 when the 'link I is'bingl'oweredby the crank 53 toadvance' the 'feedf'rolls'jfl, '43. The length of the "folded strip I 0beyond the rolls will thus be "of the' clamp at the transfer station *25.

pushed -forwardly along the guides and=-i-hrciiie'h shoe 'II andtheblade82*to; form the seal 2-3 at the station 22 and sever the strip along themedian line of thefseal' 23*at the s tati'on 24. The same motion-oftheleveriil by the "cam' 'iifl rocks the arm I I I to retract the"finger" III) e and allowthe jaw I 05 of the gripping device 94 atthetransfer station2fi"to"close and thusclamp -the leading lower corner ofthe cut-off bag to the conveyor' 21. The 'latterisfthen advanced"throughone stepfbythe'"ci'ank"99 thereby carrying all of the" bags held in" thegripping devices 'l l' forwardly. The leading" closedbag is moveddownwardly around the sprocket93 and reversely past the stationary cam*l64 by which the" cl'amp94 for this'bag 'is opened to'release "the bagfrom the conveyor. 7

As soonas the indexing stroke of'the conveyor is completed, the 'cams TIand 93 "allowthe'slioe i I' and theknife'bla'de' 82 to be retracted bytheir springs, 'the'fing'er' II'O" being projected against the jaw I05of" the'gripping device thenat't-he transfer station"26,' thus'openingthis device preparatory 'to""recei ving theend 'of the foldedstrip I53 in'thenext advance" of thelatter. One revolution of thecamshaft and a cycleofthe machine willbavfbeen completed.

In the next adyance' of the "folded strip which starts immediately;vafnew portion of the "strip is movedintd'sealing position'and'anotherhseal 23 into centred" position"relative to the c'u'tT-oifblades. Inthe"fi'nal' partof this movement; the lower end or theseal'23' at thed'eading' end of the strip entersbetw'een"thethen open jaws' lil5 Clamping ofjfthis end of the"'s'tr ip takes place" when thefinger'fI'I 0' is retracted "simultaneouslywith thehe'xt advance oftheblade Site cut off'the end portion of'the' 'stripand form the'bag.

'While the conve orzi is" at rest"during'each machine cycle, thebag'atthe' filling station28 is' opened by 'thdadvarieandr"etractionfofthe suction"'cu I I1 "byjthe' cam I26 as'abovedescribed, and fwhile"theb'ag is "held Openfthe filler mechanismis operated" to deposit ameasured quantity'o'f the'articles I2 iritheb'ag. Since at thistime, only a's'mfall area at the lowercorher ofthe bag is'clamped in"'theg'ripping"device ofthe"conveyorfl'the"bellbws"b'ottom foldilFof the bag' is free; toesr andand tnusaceommodate a relatively large number .of the articles. "Thisi's'also' advantageousin'fthat theu'pp'erends of thebag walls areallowed to comesduarely together when theupp'erpart of the bagis"squeezed between the backihg an heated'shoes",i'55"'ahd moved backand forth transversely of the path of advance of the folded s'tripliland the" completed bags II; "the machinemay --be"easily adapted formaking and filling bags of different widths. To effect such a change, itis only necessary to readjust the parts as described above to change theextent of rotation of the feed rolls, the spacing of the cut-offposition 24 from the transfer position 26, and the spacing of the heatershoe H from the cut-off position. These are easily accomplished byadjusting the throw of the crank 53 and by shifting the supports 12 and8 3 along the frame. In addition, small adjustments are made in theposition of the suction cups l l! and the filler lengthwise of themachine to center the latter with respect to the new size of bag. Nochange need be made in the conveyor 21 which is indexed through fixeddistances in order to present one of the gripping devices at thetransfer station at the termination of each advance.

The machine above described may be modified readily to produce and fillbags of the type shown in Fig. 24. To this end, the blade 60 andassociated parts for forming the bellows fold l5 are omitted and tworolls of the different kinds of paper are mounted on the roll shaft orother suitable holder so as to be led side by side between the rollers,each paper strip being of a width equal to the desired depth of the bag.In addition, a second sealing mechanism similar to that at the station22 is arranged to operate on the folded strip It at a point spaced aheadof or behind the cross-sealing station. The heated shoe of thismechanism is positioned to engage the lower edge portions of the twostrips and, when actuated, to form the seam l8 across a length of thestrips spanning two adjacent cross-seals M.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a packaging machine, the combination of means supporting a lengthof bag material including two side strips disposed side by side in avertical plane and guiding the same endwise along a predetermined path,feed mechanism engageabie with said strips and operable to advance thesame step-by-step along said path, said mechanism being adjustableselectively to vary the length of the advance, a unit engageable withsaid strips on opposite sides thereof to seal the strips togethertransversely at spaced points and th reby form a succession of connectedbags, a unit engageable with said strips beyond said sealing unit andoperable to cut off the strips within a previously formed seal, meanssupporting said units for adjustment longitudinally of said path to varythe width of the bags, a conveyor alined with said strips and movablealong said path, means on said conveyor receiving the leading end ofsaid strips at the end of each advance thereof and before operation ofsaid cut-off unit, and mechanism operable intermittently after operationof said sealing and cut-off units and during dwelling of said strips toadvance said conveyor and the previously cut-off bag through a fixeddistance greater than the width of the bags.

2. In a packaging machine, the combination of means supporting twoflexible strips side by side in a vertical plane and guiding the sameendwise along a predetermined path, a continuously rotating shaft,rollers engageable with opposite sides of said strips, a crank ofselectively adjustable length rotatable with said shaft, means providinga one-way drive connection between said crank and said rollers forturning the latter periodically to push the strips endwise stey-by-sWp,sealing mechanism including a pair of shoes extending across therespective strips and movable toward and away from each other into andout of abutting engagement with the strip to seal the engaged areasthereof together, cutter elements spaced therealong a distancecorrelated with the length of the indexing movement of the strips andrelatively movable transversely of the strips to sever the latter withinsaid sealed areas, and cam mechanism actuated by said shaft foroperating the movable shoe and cutter element in timed relation toadvance of the strips.

3. In a packaging machine, the combination of, means supportinga lengthof bag material including two side strips disposed side by side in avertical plane and guiding the same endwise along a predetermined path,feed mechanism engageable with said strips and operable to advance thesame step-by-step along said path, a unit engageable with said strips onopposite sides thereof to seal the strips together transversely atspaced points to form a succession of connected bags, a unit engageablewith said strips beyond said sealing unit and operable to out 011? thestrips within a previously formed seal, an endless conveyor having aportion extending along said path beyond said strips, mechanism foradvancing said conveyor 'step-by-step during the interval of dwell ofsaid strips, gripping devices carried by and spaced along said conveyordistances greater than the width of said bags, the trailing one of saiddevices along said portion being positioned after each advance of theconveyor to receive the leading end of the strips advanced by said feedmechanism, and means operated in timed relation to the operation of saidfeed mechanism and said cut-off unit to open said trailing grippingdevice before the final advance of said strips and close the same beforethe next advance of the conveyor.

i. In a packaging machine, the combination of, means supporting a lengthof flexible bag material including two side strips disposed side by sidein a vertical plane and guiding the same endwise along a predeterminedpath, feed mechanism engageable with said strips and operable to advancethe same step-by-step along said path, said, mechanism being adjustableselectively to vary the length of the advance, a unit engageable with:said strips on opposite sides thereof to seal the: strips togethertransversely at spaced points to: form a succession of connected bags, aunit en' gageable with said strips beyond said sealing unit; andoperable to cut off the strips within a previ-- ously formed seal, meanssupporting said units for adjustment longitudinally of said path to varythe width of the bags, a conveyor extending along said path beyond saidstrips, mechanism for advancing said conveyor step-by-step during theintervals of dwell of said strips, gripping devices carried by anduniformly spaced along said conveyor distances greater than the width ofsaid bags, successive ones of said devices being disposed after eachadvance of the conveyor in a position to receive the leading end of thestrips advanced by said feed mechanism, and means operated in timedrelation to the operation of said feed mechanism and cut-off unit toopen the gripping device in said position before the final advance ofsaid strips and close the same before the next advance of the conveyor.

5. In a packagin machine, the combination of means supporting a lengthof bag material including two side strips disposed side by side andguiding the same endwise along a predetermined path, feed mechanismoperable periodically to advance the strips in successive steps, sealingand cut-off units spaced apart along said path-distancescorrelatedwiththe length of steps and operable during dwelling of thestripsto cross seal the two together andcut off the leading end portionof the-strips across a previously formed seal and thereby: form a bag, aconveyor extending along said path beyond said strips and movablestep-by-step.duringsuccessive dwells of said strips and in timedrelation to the operation of said cut-ofi unit, gripping devices carriedby and spaced along said conveyor, successive ones of said devicesbeing. operable to receive the leading end of said strips in the finaladvance thereof, and means actuated; in timed relation to said cut-01funit to open the gripping device receiving said leading end beforeadvance of said strips and then close the same before operation of saidcut-oil unit to sever the strips.

6. A packaging machine having, in combination, means for supporting alength of bag material including two side strips disposed side-by sidein a vertical plane and advancing the same endwise step-by-step alongapredetermined path, means operable during dwelling of. the strips toseal the same crosswise, means operable during a succeeding dwell of thestrips to sever the terminal crossseal intermediate itsedges' andcomplete a bag, a conveyor beyond the end of said path adapted toreceive and grip the leading end portion of the strips before Clltl-Ofithereof, mechanism for advancing said conveyor step-by-step in timedrelation to the advance of said strips, means engageable with a bag.during dwelling thereof in one position of theconveyor to separate thebag walls and thus open the upper end of the bag, a fillill." mechanismoperable to deposit a measured quantityofmaterial into the dwelling bagwhile the latter is open, and means at a subsecuent dwell. position ofthe bag engageable with the filled bag to seal the latter across itsupper end.

'7 In apaclragingmachine, the combination of, mechanism forsupportingtwo flexible strips side by side andintermittently advancing the sameendwise alone a predetermined path, a device disposedalong said path andengageable with spaced areas of said strips on opposite sides thereofduring dwelling of. the strips to seal. the engaged areas. together. anddivide the strips into a. series of interconnected pockets, a conveyoralined with said strips and movable along said path, means on said,conveyor adapted to grip an edge portion of the-leading one ofsaidpockets at. the end of each advance of said strips, a cutting devicedisposed along said. path between said sealing device and said conveyorand operin timed relation to advance of said strips to sever: saidleadingpocket from the strips and free the samelfor advance bysaid-conveyor after the pocket has been. received. in said grippingmeans, a ii-lling station disposed along said path beyond said cutting;device and including means for depositing a quantity of material,mechanism operable intermittently after operation of said cutting devicetoadvamce said conveyor and present said freed pocket. tosaid fillingstation. in a position to: receive the deposited material, and mechanismoperated in timed relation to the operation of said depositing means to;move the walls of said freed pocket. apart and the side edges thereoftoward eachother whereby to form an opening for receiving said materialdeposit.

8.. In. baga filling; machine, the combination of, an: endless,conveyon. a filling; station, means for. indexing; said-conveyor step.by steppast said. filling. station gripping devices attached to saidconveyoriat. spaced points therealong and. presented diiringithe advance20fv said conveyor first to a gripping position and'then to said fillinstation, each of said-devicesincluding separable jaws normally urgedtogether togrip the edges of a between them'andadapted when separated toreceive a bag edge, mechanism for forming and supporting arow of bagsconnected at their adjacent edges, means for advancing said row ofbagsvendwise step bystep in timed relation to the advance of said conveyor todeliver the leading bag. of the row between thejaws of the devicedwelling. in said gripping position, means operating during dwelling ofthe row of bags to cutthe'two leading bagsapart, and mechanism operatedin timed relation to the advance of said conveyor and said cut off meansto separate the jaws of each of saiddevices as it reaches said grippingposition and then to close the jaws after entry of saidleading bag edgetherebetween.

9.. In a bag filling; machine, the combination of, a series of spacedgripping devices each includinga pair of separable j aws adapted toreceive and grip a bag edge between them, means for supporting saiddevices in spaced relation and advancing the series step by step along apredetermined path to present one device to and dwell the same in afilling position and a succeeding device to a grippingposition, meansoperated in timed relation to the advance of said devices to hold eachdevice open during part of its dwell in said gripping position and thento close the jaws of such device before the next advance thereof,mechanism for supporting a rowof bags joined at their adjacent edges andextendingtoward said gripping position, means operated in timed relationto the advance of saiddevices to index said bags forwardly and projectthe leading end of the row in between the open jaws of the devicedwelling in said gripping position, and means operable during dwellingof the bags to cut the leading two bags apart and leave the leading bagclamped in the grip-ping device.

10. In a packaging machine, the combination of, an endless conveyor,means for indexing said conveyor step by step in one direction, grippingdevices on said conveyor at spaced points therealong and presented to agripping position successively, each of said devices including separablejaws adapted when spread apart to receive a bag between them, thebag-receiving opening formed by said jaws facin longitudinally of saidconveyor in a direction opposite to the advance thereof, means foradvancing a row of connected bags endwise step by step in timed relationto advance of said conveyor to deliver the leading bag of the rowbetween the jaws of one of said devices dwelling in said grippingposition, means operable during dwelling of the row of bags to cut thetwo leading bags apart, and mechanism operated in timed relation to theadvance of said conveyor and cut-off means to hold open the jaws of thedevice dwelling in said gripping position until entry of said leadingbag and then close the jaws before cutting off of such bag.

11. In a packaging machine, the combination of, an endless conveyor,means for indexing said conveyor step by step in one direction, grippingdevices on said conveyor at spaced points therealong and presented to agripping position successively, each of said devices including separablejaws adapted when separated to receive a bag between them, thebag-receiving opening formed by said jaws facing longitudinally of saidconveyor in a direction opposite to the advance thereof, means foradvancing bags successively step by step in timed relation to advance ofsaid conveyor to deliver the leading bag between the jaws of one of saiddevices dwelling in said gripping position, a power actuated membermounted adjacent said gripping position and movable back and forthtransversely of the direction of ad- Vance of said conveyor to open andclose the gripping device in said position, and mechanism for actuatingsaid member in timed relation to the advance of said conveyor toseparate the jaws of each of said devices in said gripping position andclose the jaws after entry of said leading bag therebetween.

12. In a packaging machine, the combination of, an endless conveyor,means for indexing said conveyor step by step in one direction, grippingdevices attached to said conveyor at spaced points therealong andpresented to a gripping position successively, each of said devicesincluding a jaw fixed to said conveyor and a movable jaw cooperatingtherewith to form a bag-receiving opening facing longitudinally of saidconveyor and opposite to the direction of advance thereof, means foradvancing bags step by step in timed relation to advance of saidconveyor to deliver bags one by one between the jaws of one of saiddevices dwelling in said gripping position, a lever for each of saiddevices fulcrumed and projectin from said conveyor to swing transverselyof the path of advance of said devices, said lever being connected tothe movable jaw of the associated device and operable, when pressed inone direction to separate the movable jaw from the fixed jaw, meansnormally urging said movable jaw of each device toward the fixed jaw toclose the gripping device, and mechanism actuated in timed relation toadvance of said conveyor to actuate the lever of the device disposed insaid gripping position whereby to receive and grip the bag advanced tothe conveyor.

13. In a packaging machine, the combination of, an elongated conveyor, apower rotated shaft, means actuated periodically in the rotation of aidshaft to index said conveyor endwise step by step in one direction,gripping devices attached to said conveyor at spaced points therealongand presented to a gripping position successively, each of said devicesincluding separable jaws cooperating to define a bag-receiving openingfacing longitudinally of said conveyor and opposite to the direction ofadvance thereof, means for supporting a series of connected bags in arow terminating at said gripping position, means actuated periodicallyin the rotation of said shaft to advance the row of bags during dwellingof said conveyor in steps of shorter length than the indexing movementsof said conveyor and deliver the leading bag to the one of said devicesdwelling in said gripping position, means actuated by said shaft duringdwelling of the row of bags to cut the two leading bags apart, andmechanism actuated by said shaft to open the jaws of the device dwellingin said gripping position and then close the jaws after entry of theleading bag edge and prior to the next advance of said conveyor.

14. In a packaging machine, the combination of, an endless conveyor,means for indexing said conveyor step by step in one direction, grippingmeans on said conveyor at spaced points therealong presented to agripping position successively in the advance of the conveyor, means forsupporting a row of connected bags, mechanism operable during thesuccessive dwells of said conveyor for advancing said bags step by stepand dwelling the bags during the advance of the conveyor whereby todeliver the leading bag of the row into the one of said gripping meansdwelling in said gripping position, mechanism actuated in timed relationto the advance of the conveyor and operable to maintain the grippingmeans in said gripping position open during the advance of said row ofbags and then to close such gripping means before the next advance ofsaid conveyor, and means actuated in timed relation to the advance ofsaid bags and said conveyor and operable during dwelling of the bags andbefore the succeeding advance of said conveyor to cut the two leadingbags apart whereby to allow the leading bag to be advanced with theconveyor.

15. A packaging machine having, in combination, means for supporting alength of bag material including two side strips disposed side by sidein a vertical plane and advancing the same endwise step by step along apredetermined path, means operable during dwelling of the strips to sealthe same crosswise, means operable during a succeeding dwell of thestrips to sever the terminal cross-seal intermediate its edges and forma bag, a conveyor beyond the end of said path adapted to receive andgrip the leading end portion of the strips before cut-off thereof,mechanism for advancing said conveyor step by step during the successivedwells of said strips, a filling mechanism spaced along said conveyorbeyond the position of initial gripping of the cutoff bag and alinedwith the open end of such bag in a subsequent dwell position thereof,means operable during dwelling of said conveyor to deposit material intothe bag disposed opposite said filling mechanism, and means disposed ata subsequent dwell position of the filled bag engageable with the openend portion thereof to seal the latter closed.

16. A packaging machine having, in combination, means for convertingstrip material into a row of bags connected at their adjacent edges andfor advancing the bags edgewise along a predetermined path to presentthe leading bag to a gripping position, means operable after saidleading bag has reached said gripping position to separate such bag fromsaid row, a conveyor disposed beyond the end of said path operable toreceive and grip the leading bag before cutoff thereof, mechanism foradvancing said conveyor to carry the gripped bag along an extension ofsaid path, a filling mechanism for depositing material in a bagsupported by said conveyor, and mechanism operable in timed relation tothe advance of the conveyor for opening a supported bag thereon anddelivering material from said filling mechanism into the bag.

HAROLD L. BARTELT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,051,483 Jones Aug. 18, 1936 2,272,251 Robinson Feb. 10, 19422,295,335 Cloud Sept. 8, 1942 2,334,256 Eaton Nov. 16, 1943 2,336,962Salfisberg Dec. 14, 1943 2,350,666 Allen June 6, 1944 2,475,359 PiazzeJuly 5, 1949

